Governor Vetoes Bill Banning Semi-Automatic Rifles

posted by KFBK News - Tom Cutler
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3 years ago

The most controversial of these is the ban on lead ammunition, which bans lead bullets as an environmental hazard and compells hunters and sportsman to use alternatives which will likely be more expensive and harder to obtain.

The other bills going into law ban conversion kits to increase the number of bullets a gun can fire.

An extention of the time alotted for background checks. And all gun buyers must now take a gun safety class and earn a certificate before they can take possession of a gun.

Brown says the bill would have virtually outlawed any gun with a magazine and that would effect the ability of hunters, marksmen and sportsmen.

"In his veto message, the Governor said he believes this measure to ban semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines goes too far. Certainly, there is no doubt that this measure was crafted to take aggressive action. I did so because I believe aggressive action is precisely what's needed to reduce the carnage in our communities, and to counter the equally aggressive action by the gun industry which is intent on exploiting loopholes in our existing ban on assault weapons," Steinberg said in a press release.

Citing environmental concerns over lead, Brown has outlawed lead ammunition.

The move is strongly opposed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Spokesman Tim Rosales says any other compromise could've reached a better solution.

"Issues about any type of lead toxicity in the environment could be handled in a different way -- in a collaborative way that brings together hunters, manufacturers, fish and game wardens, who by the way, opposed AB 711," Rosales said.

The move was also condemned by Fourth District State Senator Jim Nielsen who calls the ban: Another step by some special interest groups, whose desire is to diminish, if not eliminate, hunting in California.